The Prime Minister was lucky to be out of the country when several incidents occurred in the country. The Maoists called Nepal bandh (closure). Prince Paras pointed a machine gun at policemen during the bandh. One of Prime Minister’s favourite ministers Sharat Singh Bhandari tried to establish smugglers as players in the just concluded SAF Games. Likewise, PM’s another favourite cabinet colleague, Minister Bal Bahadur KC beat up his female friend Indira Thapa.
How will the Prime Minister take these issues when he returns back to the country. It will be a big test for the prime minister, who has said that he would not tolerate any misdoing and corruption from his ministers. Will he take any action against those corrupt and immoral ministers.
The Prime Minister’s reputation is at stake now. According to a source close to prime minister, on one hand there is pressure from the party to take action against those ministers and on the other he may be under pressure from his supporters to save them. But prime minister himself has felt that they have done wrong. So, immediately after his return, he may call a joint meeting of the ministers and the MPs on what should be done.
There will be no shuffling of the cabinet before the Dashain festival. Many expect it will take place after the festival. But very few believe Prime Minister Bhattarai will sack KC and Bhandari in the name of cabinet reshuffle. But the situation could be against him. Although the successful completion of the SAF Games could help Bhandari to retain his post, but KC may not have anything to fall back on.
(Gatibidhi, Saturday, Oct. 9)